Things have not gone well for the Detroit Tigers in the second half of their current homestand against the Boston Red Sox. On Tuesday night, de facto ace hurler Framber Valdez completely fell apart, coughing up 10 runs in three innings en route to a 10-3 loss.
Now facing a possible sweep at home — something unthinkable coming into the series after dominating at Comerica Park in April — the Motor City Kitties turn to right-hander Jack Flaherty, whose woes have continued into the month of May. He has been limited to no more than 3 2/3 innings in his last three starts and has given up 12 runs (10 earned) in nine innings of work.
That stretch includes Flaherty’s previous start against the Red Sox, in which he threw 3 1/3 frames, allowing two runs — but neither earned — on three hits and six walks while striking out three. And that could easily be considered the best of his recent trio of starts.
Right-hander Sonny Gray will be toeing the rubber for the Red Sox in the midst of a perfectly mediocre campaign. Last time he saw the Tigers is also the last game he appeared in, as he left that Patriots’ Day game in the third inning with right hamstring tightness. After a 15-day injury list stint, he returns to action against the same foe.
Take a look below at how the two starters match up on Wednesday night.
Detroit Tigers (18-19) vs. Boston Red Sox (15-21)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Over the Monster Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 38: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-2, 5.90 ERA) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (2-1, 4.30 ERA)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Carlos Cortes #26 of the Athletics bats against the Cleveland Guardians in the bottom of the first inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on May 02, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We hold these truths to be self evident and yet certain members of the front office, coaching team, and players’ unit don’t appear to grasp them. So here I come, the reluctant hero once again, to impart pearls of deep wisdom to the surely eager green and gold wearing humanoids. And AI bots if any are reading along.
1. LH batters need to embrace hitting to LF in order to succeed.
There’s a reason Tyler Soderstrom and Nick Kurtz are putting up poor numbers against LHP, the same reason Soderstrom took a pause from being an easy out and raked LHPs the second half of 2025.
Kurtz and Soderstrom are trying to pull most everything, which is a recipe for disaster. You pull sliders that are breaking away from you, resulting in a lot of ground balls, you start your swing earlier and find yourself fooled by more chase sliders, you have to be more cognizant of the outer 1/3 of the plate and become, as a result, far more vulnerable to fastballs in.
Kurtz may be an elite offensive player already, but his troubles against LHP are real, not just relative. This season he is off to a .205/.352/.250 start and while the walks are nice the BA and SLG are both legitimately bad. And he’s now sitting at .199/.285/.381 for his career (207 PA) with a 35.7% K rate.
Soderstrom, who was whacking singles and doubles the other way against lefties after last year’s All-Star break, is back to trying to pull everything and it has resulted in his going 5 for 43 with 15 K against only 3 BB.
The A’s have been particularly vulnerable against LHPs and these two are a big part of why. Both are capable of mastering lefties, as they have shown in spurts, but they need to take a page out their teammate, Carlos Cortes’, book and approach their at bats more prudently.
2. The “hot hand” is worth riding, but enough about Carlos Cortes.
There is much misunderstanding around the concept of a hot hand, kind of along the lines of “Joe Morgan wrote a book about how you should always try to walk.”
When the “hot hand” phenomenon was “debunked” it was on the statistical truth that nothing could accurately predict when a basketball shooter, a baseball hitter, or any other athlete, would turn from hot to cold. That does NOT mean that no one gets “hot” or “cold” or that you aren’t wise to ride them for as long as they are “feeling it” and producing commensurate results. It just means it won’t last forever and you shouldn’t be surprised any day that it might turn. And then you might want to focus on career norms more than recent stats.
It’s utterly ridiculous that the A’s are not starting Cortes each and every game right now. He’s not just “hot” he has hit like the best hitter on the planet all season so far: .387/.452/.640, 200 wRC+ with an 8.3% K rate to be exact. And that’s on the heels of his 99 PA debut in 2025 when he batted .309/.323/.543.
The fact is, we are still in the era where Carlos Cortes has never NOT hit over .300, and his career line now stands at .343/.383/.586, 163 wRC+. And it’s not even as if the platoon matchups have fazed him. Cortes has been given precious few chances to peddle his wares as a left-on-left threat, but when he’s gotten up there all he has done is go 7 for 12. (Precisely because he sprays the ball the other way if the pitch is breaking away from him or on the outer 1/3.)
It’s not about whether Cortes is actually a .343 hitter, it’s about recognizing that he’s been that since last July and that he has been consistently great throughout his time in the big leagues — and he’s doing it with excellent swing decisions, elite knowledge of the strike zone, a smart approach, and a sustainable all-fields approach.
You play that hand until the time comes where Cortes doesn’t look like one of the best hitters in all of MLB. (His career wRC+ right now is a little higher than Shohei Ohtani’s, a little lower than Aaron Judge’s, and a tick better than Nick Kurtz’.) Of course it’s still a small sample, but let him tell you when he’s ready to cool off. Don’t cool him off by sitting him while he’s not just hitting well, he’s hitting everyone.
3. Defense Matters, like a lot
Sometimes you sacrifice a little defense to get a bat in the lineup — Cortes is an example of someone who won’t win any gold gloves but more than offsets it with his hitting. It also helps that Cortes doesn’t play a ‘premium position’ on the diamond; you can hide deficiencies better in the corners than you can up the middle.
Kudos to Zack Gelof for almost instantly putting himself into the “helps your defense” category in CF. Given how he has shown up, the contrast between him in CF, the average CFers around MLB, and Lawrence Butler, is stark.
Now Butler may have his faults one can fairly criticize but his CF play isn’t among them. It’s not his fault that he simply doesn’t have the skill set for the job — he’s a fine RFer. But in CF he is a significant liability because he routinely gets poor reads, doesn’t always take good routes, and lacks the foot/sprint speed to make up for it.
If Butler were mashing like he did at the end of 2024 you could squint and make a case, though still the wiser course would be to play him where he’s actually suited to playing and figure out CF separately. As it is, he shouldn’t be an option in CF just as Max Muncy isn’t really the answer at 3B unless he’s hitting like he did the first 3 weeks of the season — and even then you need better defense at 3B than he has been able to give thus far in his career.
The A’s need to keep prioritizing defense even if it means sticking with Gelof in CF, and eventually Denzel Clarke again, regardless of how they are hitting. A run saved is indeed worth as much as a run scored, and overall this A’s team has far more acumen scoring than preventing.
In sum, all men are not created equal, so deal with it.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Colorado Rockies President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta looks on as pitchers participate in the second day of spring training workouts at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 13, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
In life, patience is a virtue. In baseball, it’s a necessity.
The last seven years of Colorado Rockies baseball have exhausted the patience of fans, as the wait for a competitive team became more and more prolonged. Thankfully, the changes instituted at 20th and Blake by the President of Baseball Operations, Paul DePodesta, have started to yield some positive results for the 2026 Rockies. Games have been a bit more competitive, and there have been noticeable development improvements across the organization.
There is legitimate optimism for the first time in years.
The Rockies clearly have a plan for how they go about their business. A big part of that plan seems to be avoiding the folly of being reactionary, something so prevalent in the world of sports. The team is choosing patience, particularly with struggling players.
“We don’t want to be reactionary. We also don’t want our players thinking that if they go 0-for-4 tonight, they’re not in the lineup tomorrow. Or worse, they’re going to Triple-A,” DePodesta said to reporters on May 3.
“We believe in these guys. We also believe in a lot of the guys we have in Triple-A right now, but we want to give them ample opportunities to play.”
The struggles of players like Ezequiel Tovar, Brenton Doyle, and Jordan Beck likely inspired these comments from DePodesta. This trio of staples from the 2025 Rockies have been off to rough starts in 2026 and the issues have been obvious as numbers are down, strikeouts are up, and they are being overshadowed by the newcomers to the lineup. Those struggles have left fans and media onlookers clamoring for the promotions of prospects like Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) and Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP).
The Rockies have not indicated that these players are at risk of losing their spots on the roster at the moment, and while it may be an unpopular opinion, I’m fine with the Rockies’ approach of exhibiting patience and letting those struggling players figure things out, despite the frustrations of watching that process.
Players have always needed time and opportunity to grow and settle in during the regular season. Whether you are a rookie or an experienced veteran, baseball takes time. Both Doyle and Beck have seen their playing time reduced, but DePodesta and manager Warren Schaeffer have looked for ample opportunities to put them in match-ups to succeed, particularly against left-handed pitching.
“I think we’ve faced the fewest left-handed pitchers in all of baseball so far. I think that’s right — at least it was as of a couple of days ago,” DePodesta said. “So, we expect that they’ll have more opportunities. And it’s hard when you’re not playing every single day. It’s just hard to get in a rhythm, and then especially if you’ve gotten off to a slower start than you’re accustomed to, it can be really hard.”
The turn towards a platoon could benefit Beck more, as he is slashing .333/.344/.567 against lefties with four of his five extra-base hits, including his lone home run. While Doyle’s numbers aren’t what he’d like, he does have slightly better success against lefties, and the Rockies have experimented with his spot in the batting order. Batting ninth has actually been a great spot for Doyle, where he is 8-for-22. The presence of other successful outfielders has afforded the Rockies the grace of using Beck and Doyle in positions where they could succeed.
As for Tovar, I’m again reminded of Carlos González in 2009.
I won’t rehash the entire story again like I did in 2023, but CarGo was called up shortly after Jim Tracy was named the new manager of the struggling Rockies. CarGo struggled immensely, but Tracy was undeterred. As questions mounted from the media about why he was still playing, Tracy explained that if CarGo was still in the clubhouse, he was going to be in the lineup. Tracy saw the potential and understood the young outfielder needed time to both fail and learn to succeed, and he eventually did in the second half of 2009 en route to a spectacular career in Colorado.
Tovar is receiving the same amount of grace from Schaeffer. It can be hard to remember that Tovar is still just 24-years-old and is far from a finished product. He knows that he chases too much and is diligently working on improving his plate approach. Over the last six games, Tovar just about doubled his walk total for the season to seven while chasing much less. It’s not a barn burner in terms of progress, but small victories can start to stack up as he continues to play every day.
“We want to stay behind those guys and continue to give them opportunities,” DePodesta said,“and we’re confident that we’re going to look up at the end of the year and they will be as productive as they’ve been previously.”
Sticking behind players on the roster plays right into the plan the Rockies have. A problem of the past was rushing prospects to the big leagues out of desperation and reactionary tendencies. Despite excellent play in Triple-A in a brief sample size, those players faced a great deal of struggles at the major league level before they were ready.
That’s a mistake DePodesta isn’t going to replicate. He spent the offseason seeking to build depth and allowing prospects the chance to bloom after the proper amount of time.
“Like, we want to call players up when they are banging down the door where we have to make room for them because they’re just playing so well and that they have the underlying foundation in place to be successful up here — not just to survive, you know, but to be successful,” DePodesta said.
As James Riggenbach pointed out last week, production is not necessarily proof for the prospects in Albuquerque. Condon started hot out of the gate, but over the last 30 days, he has slashed .218/.382/.321 with four extra-base hits. However, he is showing the tools of a quality plate discipline that will bode well while he works on doing more with the ball in play. Carrigg has continued to play extremely well and was recently named the Pacific Coast Player of the Week. There is merit in calling for his promotion, but he is also 31 games into his first season of Triple-A, and it’s okay to allow him to continue solidifying his tools there.
As DePodesta said, the play is great, but the prospects need a solid foundation in which they can succeed and have their Triple-A tools translate against the best competition in baseball. We’ve seen the opposite side of that story far too often over the years.
We all want winning baseball in Colorado, but for the Rockies to succeed in their version of a rebuild, everyone has to be on board with trusting the process. Certainly, the front office, coaches, and players have to be on the same page, but the fans also need to display patience.
Trust that DePodesta and company know what they are doing and have a vision for what they want to accomplish.
Despite notching just four hits, the Isotopes scored seven runs to win an extra-inning affair in Sugar Land. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Isotopes struck back and knotted the game 4-4 in the top of the fifth. The game remained tied until Albuquerque put up three in the top of the 10th, thanks in part to a two-run home run by Braxton Fulford. The Isotopes struck out 13 times but also managed a staggering 15 walks with every player drawing at least one. Adael Amador led the team with four walks. Valente Bellozo started on the mound and worked four innings, giving up four runs and walking seven batters. However, the bullpen held firm with TJ Shook notably striking out five in his two innings of work. Seth Halverson locked down his third save in the 10th.
The offense came out in full force for Hartford, scoring 10 runs on 15 hits. Eight of the starters had at least one hit, while Andy Perez, Roc Riggio, and Aidan Longwell each had three hits. Riggio notched a pair of doubles while Longwell had a double and belted his fifth home run of the season and drove in three runs. Benny Montgomery also blasted a grand slam for his second home run of the season. Konner Eaton made the start and cruised through 5.2 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Enjoying some early morning baseball, the Spokane Indians utilized a three-run bottom of the second inning to win the series opener. Kelvin Hidalgo laced a two-run triple to get the Indians on the board before coming in to score on a Roynier Hernadez single. Max Belyeu added some insurance in the sixth inning, belting a solo shot for his fourth of the year. That is all the team would need as Jackson Cox was dealing on the mound. He allowed just one run on one hit, a solo home run in the third, while striking out nine and walking three. The Dust Devils got a run in the eighth and threatened in the ninth, but the combo of Justin Loer and Nathan Blasick secured the win with the latter earning his second save of the year.
Trailing 10-4 entering the ninth inning, the Fresno Grizzlies rallied for six runs to tie the game and go on to win in extra-innings over San Jose in the series opener. Fresno collected 13 hits in the game, led by Roldy Brito’s four hits. They had six doubles in the game, with Ethan Holliday’s two-run double and Jack O’Dowd’s RBI double tying the game in the ninth. Carlos Renzullo’s double in the 10th gave the Grizzlies the lead and later Brito’s single gave them the 13th run of the game. Ethan Cole started on the mound and went just 2.1 innings giving up two runs. Brady Parker followed but surrendered five runs in 2.2 innings of work. Dyland Crooks played stopper later in the game with two scoreless frames, followed by Seth Clausen earning the save. Fresno pitching had 13 strikeouts as a unit against two walks.
This Phillies site over on FanSided is lamenting how much the Phillies could use a player like Mickey Moniak currently. The former number one overall pick was considered a bust back east, but has found a home in Colorado, just as the Phillies struggle with an underperforming lineup, particularly in the outfield.
TJ Rumfield’s approach has been excellent through his first month of big league action. His ability to put bat to ball is impressive, so Thomas Harding caught up with him to chat about his approach.
This week, Evan Lang and I talk about the struggles of the bullpen lately, the joy of Rumfield and Troy Johnston, and bring back Players of the Month for 2026!
The Vegas Golden Knights take a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 against the Anaheim Ducks tonight, with puck drop scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena.
My Ducks vs. Golden Knights props are targeting Jackson LaCombe to stay hot, while Mitch Marner and John Carlson will also make offensive noise.
Jackson LaCombe continues to lead the Anaheim Ducks in these playoffs. He notched his team-best 10th point in Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights, and all but one have been assists. He set up the Ducks’ lone goal in Game 1, and LaCombe has cashed the Over in helpers in six of his last seven appearances.
The 25-year-old is playing huge minutes right now, averaging at least 27 per game across the last three contests. His TOI in the series opener was 28:07.
LaCombe plays on the top line with two of Anaheim’s best scorers in Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry, and is also a key driving force on PP1.
Game 2 Prop #2: Mitch Marner Over 0.5 assists
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Mitch Marner has been a stud in the playoffs for Vegas, grabbing nine points, which includes six assists. The 28-year-old has hit the Over in helpers in four consecutive outings, and he’s notched an assist in all but one postseason game so far.
Marner finished with two points in the series opener, and he also had 32 helpers in 41 home games during the regular season. The veteran has also fired 10 pucks on net across the last two contests. The chances are there.
Game 2 Prop #3: John Carlson Over 0.5 assists
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LaCombe isn’t the only Ducks defenseman setting up goals.
Trade-deadline acquisition John Carlson had 46 helpers this season, and 10 in just 16 games after arriving in Anaheim. He’s also been productive in the playoffs, tallying six helpers so far.
Carlson has hit the Over in two straight, and he’s notched five assists over his last five. Many of his helpers this season came on the road as well, compiling 29 in only 35 games. He’s rolling, and Carlson is one of the main playmakers on this second line.
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There’s something organic about the way it all happened. A 60-year-old Buffalo man drove around 90 minutes to just outside of Rochester to buy a Body Opponent Bag — now called “Bob the dummy” — on Facebook Marketplace two days before the city’s first playoff game in 15 years. A group of younger Sabres fans known as the Blade Gang veered around KeyBank Center before that same April afternoon.
And when Nick Mastrocovo moved his dummy — donning a Bruins jersey for the Sabres’ first-round opponent — closer to the Blade Gang during the pregame festivities April 19, one member landed a punch. Everyone erupted. Another member tackled the dummy from behind. A viral moment was born. Mastrocovo and his cousin returned for Game 2 in referee jerseys, just in case something got out of control after the added attention. The Blade Gang traveled to Boston for road games. Playoff hockey in Buffalo suddenly had more than a pulse.
It rapidly became the epicenter of the tournament.
Sabres fans partake in pre-game antics involving a dummy dressed in a Bruins jersey before Game 5 of their first-round matchup, won by Buffalo in six games. AP
“I don’t think that they go viral without the dummy … and I don’t think the dummy gets as much love without them,” Mastrocovo told The Post.
For more than a decade, the intersection of Washington and Perry was dormant this time of year. Seasons unofficially ended in December. Aprils were about coaching changes. The Sabres were the punch line on national television. In December, when Buffalo sat in last place in the Eastern Conference, that became the case again, but a historical turnaround that led to the Atlantic Division title has now reached the second round of the postseason for the first time in 18 years — with Game 1 of the second-round series against the Canadiens set for Wednesday in Buffalo.
And at the center of it has been the Sabres fans who “are just nuts,” Mastrocovo said.
“You’d always go out in these stores in Buffalo and you see people wearing [Alex] Ovechkin shirts or [Sidney] Crosby shirts,” Mastrocovo told The Post. “Someone wore something Sabres, the joke was, ‘Oh did you lose a bet?’ And now, you see these kids wearing Sabre jerseys.”
So for the first time since the 2006-07 season, there’s a reason for fans to descend on downtown Buffalo, weaving through the highways and streets where — with a good gust of wind — you can smell the Cheerios from the General Mills factory.
The Sabres are one of 10 NHL teams who haven’t won a Stanley Cup, though they came close in 1999, and for as much as Josh Allen and Bills Mafia and folding-table shenanigans have shaped Buffalo’s sports reputation in recent years, it has always been a hockey city, too.
Sabres fans get pumped up before Game 1 of their first-round series against the Bruins, which they went on to win in six games. NHLI via Getty Images
Mastrocovo’s mom helped clean the visiting locker room at the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, he said. His two hamsters growing up were named Rick and Martin — after one of the members of the Sabres’ French Connection line. Those were links to the initial days, when they made the Stanley Cup Final in just their fifth season, and the Sabres have been a part of his entire life. They advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in 2006 and ’07, but fell short again.
Some of those runs were expected. This one, though, wasn’t.
Alex Tuch, who collected 33 goals during the regular season and another four during their first-round series, hinted at what would happen with fans in the playoffs. “I hope they have a lot of police officers and firemen on duty,” he said on TNT after the Sabres officially clinched a spot in the tournament, “because I feel like the whole city’s gonna burn down. It’s gonna be awesome.”
A Sabres fan skates outside the arena before their Game 5 matchup against the Bruins. Getty Images
Ticket prices have skyrocketed. Local stores started prioritizing Sabres merch again. Watch parties at Canalside, the downtown waterfront, made cameos on broadcasts, capturing the pent-up energy. When singer Cami Clune’s microphone stopped working during the Canadian national anthem in Game 5, fans inside KeyBank Center picked up with the words and created a crescendo that spread across social media.
When the Sabres returned home from Boston after clinching the first-round series in Game 6, fans gathered at the airport to greet the team. The dummy, still in a Cam Neely No. 8 jersey, was there, too. Players recorded the scene as they drove by. And for around 30 minutes each pregame, Mastrocovo’s dummy entered the spotlight. Fans wanted pictures as it rolled up the street.
It took a beating, he joked. He messaged the woman he bought it from again and said, “Hey, I’m not sure if you caught anything online, but I just want you to know what happened to your dummy.”
Sabres fans get pumped up before Game 1 of their series against the Bruin in which they won in six games. NHLI via Getty Images
“This is the best marketplace sale I’ve ever had,” he recalled her replying.
The question becomes how long this will all last. Behind forward Tage Thompson (40 regular-season goals) and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (74 points) and a goaltender in Alex Lyon who became the starter in the middle of the Bruins series, their season could last until June.
Mastrocovo thinks it’s all sustainable for future seasons, too. For now, they’re guaranteed four more games against the Canadiens. For two of those, Mastrocovo’s dummy will have a plain, red Montreal jersey on — he has a Guy Lafleur one but wanted to be respectful.
The fans, and the spectacle that the dummy and the Blade Gang and the watch party creates, will be at the center of everything.
“It’s just balls to the wall, 100 percent, let’s go,” Mastrocovo said.
Injured Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts to a play during Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. (Kyle Phillips / Associated Press)
The answer to the Lakers’ slumping offense sat hunched in a chair in the corner of the visitors' locker room at Paycom Center. Luka Doncic, dressed in a black T-shirt and pants, scrolled on his phone, cornered off by a wall of reporters who all faced LeBron James looking for reasons behind a postseason dry spell.
“We have a guy that averages 37 [points] a game [out],” James said. “Thirty-three-and-a-half. … There’s the issue right there.”
Since Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in this arena on April 2, the Lakers used heroic performances from James, suddenly hot shooting and stout defense to paper over the absence of their leading scorer. But Tuesday's 108-90 Game 1 loss against the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder showed just how much the Lakers miss Doncic.
On a night they limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a season-low 18 points and a season-high seven turnovers, the Lakers still never got closer than 11 points in the fourth quarter. The reigning most valuable player scored fewer than 20 points in a game for the first time since May 24, 2025.
The Lakers slugged their way through a defensive battle against the Houston Rockets in the first round, but their offense started lagging midway through the series. They’ve scored fewer than 100 points in four consecutive games, three of them losses. The team that shot a league-leading 50.2% during the regular season has dipped to 46.5%. Their 99.6 points per game in the playoffs is the lowest for any team still playing in the conference semifinals.
“When you play against great defense, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times,” said James, who led the Lakers with 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting. “I feel like we had great shots. We got some great shots tonight, we missed them.”
The Lakers shot 10 for 30 from three-point range. In the first round, the Lakers shot better than 40% from three in all four of their wins compared to no better than 25.9% in their two losses.
The Thunder allowed the seventh-most three-pointers per game during the regular season. Hoping to exploit the weakness, the Lakers got up 30 three-pointers, a relative improvement from their first-round series average of 25.5 per game.
But forward Rui Hachimura, who shot three for six from three, said the team can afford to shoot even more.
Luke Kennard, who burst into the postseason with 50 combined points in Games 1 and 2 against the Houston Rockets, shot only one for three from three. Lakers coach JJ Redick lamented that the NBA’s best three-point shooter passed up some good shots.
The Lakers struggled to generate three-pointers in the aftermath of injuries to Doncic and Austin Reaves. Reaves’ return hasn’t fully jump-started the offense as the guard regains his rhythm after a left oblique strain that sidelined him for four weeks.
Reaves was 0 for five from three in his third game back. He is two-for-17 shooting from distance in the playoffs and had just eight points on three-for-16 shooting Tuesday.
Injured Lakers star Luka Doncic greets teammate Dalton Knecht during the second half of Game 1 on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Phillips / Associated Press)
“I got to get my spots multiple times and just missed a couple of easy shots,” Reaves said. “But for the most part, you got to limit the turnovers. They pressure the ball really well, just got to give us an opportunity to get a shot on goal every possession.”
The Lakers committed 18 turnovers that led to 20 Oklahoma City points, including 15 in the second half. Redick identified turnovers as the Lakers’ top priority against the most disruptive defense in the league, especially after the Lakers averaged 17.7 turnovers per game during the first round of the playoffs.
The Lakers miss Doncic’s 33.5 points a game, but against such an aggressive defense, they also ache for his ball handling that could ease the pressure on Reaves (four turnovers), Smart (two) and James (two).
“We decided we’re just going to be enough with what we have,” Hachimura said. “But I think those kinds of stuff [Doncic does] — the playmaking, especially against a team like these guys, they pressure the ball — Luka, with his size and his ball handling, everything, he could have been a good playmaker for sure.”
Doncic has increased some of his on-court work recently by incorporating movement into his shooting, but had not progressed to live contact by the time the series began. He posted a photo of himself lifting weights on his Instagram story on Monday, but Redick didn’t give any updates on the star guard’s status.
In the locker room after Tuesday’s game, teammates sat with their feet submerged in buckets of ice and ice packs wrapped around their joints. In his corner between the lockers for James and Reaves, Doncic turned to the side as reporters passed by.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 5: Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In Tuesday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Detroit beat Cleveland, 111-101, while Oklahoma City knocked off Los Angeles, 108-90.
Tyrese Proctor got another DNP, but it’s the playoffs, and he’s a rookie, so no big surprise.
In the nightcap, Luke Kennard finished with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist.
For his part, Jared McCain finished with 12 points, including 4-5 on his three-point attempts. He also had 2 rebounds and 2 assists.
On Wednesday, Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2. The teams played on Monday, but Plumlee didn’t get any time, so we didn’t think it justified a full post.
1961: Adrian Smith #10 of the Cincinnati Royals poses during a mock action portrait session in 1961. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1961 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The University of Kentucky is mourning the loss of a true legend. Adrian ‘Odie’ Smith, a cornerstone of Kentucky’s storied history and a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, passed away on April 28. He was 89 years old. The university released a statement Monday announcing the passing.
Smith leaves behind a legacy that stretches from the bluegrass of Lexington to the Olympic podium in Rome, and all the way to the NBA record books. So, if it’s a name you are unfamiliar with, here is everything you need to know.
A champion in Lexington
Smith transferred to Kentucky from Northeast Mississippi Junior College and made a huge impact. Playing under Adolph Rupp during the 1957-58 season, Smith was a beloved member of the iconic ‘Fiddlin’ Five’ that captured the 1958 NCAA National Championship.
He was a steady presence, averaging 10.2 points across 51 total games. When the lights were brightest, Smith delivered, elevating his game to average nearly 14 points per contest during UK’s four-game run to the national title.
UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart released a statement honoring Smith’s profound impact on the university:
“Odie holds a special place in the history, and the treasured heritage, of Kentucky Basketball. His accomplishments on the court – the NCAA championship at UK, two gold medals representing the United States in international competition, and his 11-year pro career – speak for themselves. What I remember most about Odie is that he had such a positive presence. He was a bright light wherever he went, always smiling, always cheerful, and most of all, so incredibly proud that he had played for the Wildcats.”
Military service and Olympic gold
Smith’s path to professional stardom was anything but conventional. After a brief, unsuccessful stint with the Cincinnati Royals, who drafted him in the 15th round, Smith joined the US Army.
While serving his country, he was selected to represent the United States at the Pan American Games in Chicago, winning a gold medal. That earned him a spot on the legendary 1960 U.S. Olympic Team. Playing alongside future icons like Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Jerry Lucas, Smith helped secure a gold medal in Rome.
Following the gold medal game, Smith climbed onto the shoulders of teammate Darrall Imhoff to cut down the net. It is a keepsake that the University said he kept his entire life.
A unique piece of NBA History
Smith eventually found his footing in the NBA, rejoining the Cincinnati Royals in 1961 to form a dynamic backcourt duo with Oscar Robertson, dubbed the “Big O” and the “Little O.”
During the 1965-66 season, Smith averaged a career-high 18.4 points per game, earning him his first and only selection to the NBA All-Star Game. Playing in front of his hometown Cincinnati crowd, Smith stole the show. He scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds, outshining 16 future Hall of Famers to win the All-Star Game MVP award.
To this day, Smith remains the only player in NBA history to win All-Star MVP honors in his lone appearance in the game. He received a Ford Galaxie 500 convertible for the achievement, a car he proudly owned for the remainder of his life.
The only other Kentucky player to win the NBA All-Star MVP is Anthony Davis.
A life well lived
Smith wrapped up his 11-year professional career on the West Coast with the San Francisco Warriors and spent his final season in the ABA with the Virginia Squires, sharing the court with a rookie named Julius Erving. He finished with 8,750 career points.
Following his playing days, Smith transitioned into a highly successful banking career in Cincinnati. His home state of Kentucky never forgot his contributions; he was an inaugural member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006, and his hometown dedicated the Adrian ‘Odie’ Smith Highway in his honor in 2015.
He is survived by his son, Tyler, and his brother, Kenny.
Big Blue Nation has lost a champion, a patriot, and a pioneer of the game. Rest in peace, Odie.
Ødegaard takes ‘massive confidence’ from semi-final
Arsenal will travel to Budapest for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich with no trace of an inferiority complex, according to Leandro Trossard, who knows that anything is possible in a one-off game.
The Arsenal winger and his teammates drank in the euphoria after Tuesday night’s 1-0 home win over Atlético Madrid in the semi-final second-leg for a 2-1 aggregate triumph, savouring the achievement and the sense of history. Arsenal have only contested one previous final in the competition, losing to Barcelona in 2006.
Who will win Dodgers vs Astros today: Astros moneyline (+180)
Lance McCullers Jr. is trending up at exactly the right time, generating 13 swings and misses across six innings against Baltimore last week.
The Houston Astros have also been the hotter offense over the last seven days, posting a 107 wRC+ while theLos Angeles Dodgers rank 14th with just two home runs and a .085 ISO.
Nearly 2/1 underdogs with an offense this dangerous is too much to pass up.
COVERS INTEL:Alvarez ranks in the 89th percentile, with a 51.3% hard-hit rate across 117 batted-ball events.
Dodgers vs Astros Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-112)
Glasnow is excellent but has surrendered four home runs this season, and the wind blowing out at Daikin Park on a hot, humid afternoon turns warning-track shots into runs.
The Astros bullpen ranks among the worst in baseball over the last seven days, posting a 5.88 ERA with a 15% home run rate.
Alvarez is a genuine threat to go deep against anyone, and once both starters exit, neither pen inspires confidence.
The Over is 6-4 in their previous 10 meetings, and this total is begging to be cleared.
Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 5-9, -3.05 units
Over/Under bets: 5-7, -3.16 units
Dodgers vs Astros odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -194 | Astros +186
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (-117) | Astros +1.5 (+113)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-117) | Under 8.5 (+108)
Dodgers vs Astros trend
The Astros are 7-3 in their previous 10 games with the Dodgers. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Astros.
How to watch Dodgers vs Astros and game info
Location
Daikin Park, Houston, TX
Date
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet LA, SCHN
Dodgers starting pitcher
Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 2.56 ERA)
Astros starting pitcher
Lance McCullers Jr. (2-2, 6.32 ERA)
Dodgers vs Astros latest injuries
Dodgers vs Astros weather
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Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) attempts to take a shot under pressure from Lakers Austin Reaves (15), Marcus Smart (36) Deandre Ayton, center with arm raised, and LeBron James (23) during Game 1 of their second-round NBA playoff series Tuesday in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Phillips / Associated Press)
You held Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to fewer than 20 points for the first time since Game 3 of the Western Conference finals last May 24. You forced him into a season-high seven turnovers. And — get this, this part is really wild — you afforded the man who basically lives at the charity stripe only three free-throw attempts.
You should be so proud.
You should also know now for sure: It’s not happening.
You held SGA, the reigning league MVP, to 18 points and you lost Game 1 of this Western Conference semifinal series by 18 points, 108-90.
And now you know you’re not mounting a monumental upset and dethroning the defending NBA champions.
You can play a bit better in Games 2, 3 and 4, sure. Austin Reaves could shoot better than three for 16. Marcus Smart should shoot better than four for 15. Luke Kennard ought to shoot more than four times.
But unless, by some miracle, Luka Doncic’s ailing hamstring is healed by Game 2 on Thursday, the Thunder are just much too much for these Lakers.
Oklahoma City gave them a rusty, tin-man version of SGA for a game and continued playing without his injured co-star Jalen Williams. And still, the Thunder were too talented, too deep, too well-coached.
They’re also too aggressive, too confident, too experienced, too together, too clever.
Oh, but I’m going on too long, let the Smart take it from here …
Thunder guard Jared McCain, driving to the basket against Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, had 12 points off the bench in Game 1, making four of five three-point shots. (Kyle Phillips / Associated Press)
“No matter what, they're relentless in their pursuit,” he said. “They're constantly on the move, they're constantly downhill, putting defenses on their heels. So when you got guys like that, that's constantly putting pressure, not only on you just offensively, but defensively, it is tough. And they come in waves, right? And when they get hot and get going, they can really get going. So they're tough in that aspect.
“[And they’re] defending champs. They've been here, they understand it. They grew up together, and they have a different type of chemistry that most teams probably don't have.”
That includes even this get-along gang that is this season’s Lakers.
Winning this best-of-seven series against the Thunder was already an impossible dream. Game 1 illustrated that it’s more like a foregone conclusion.
If the NBA issued intentional walks, they’d put Oklahoma City on base and save the Thunder fans’ voices for later in the playoffs.
If it was possible to simulate the rest of the series, video-game style, it would be worth considering.
Not that there isn’t still value in this series for the Lakers. Not so much in the inevitable result, but for the result of the test: Who on this team is built for this?
Who on this roster measures up against the barometer that is Oklahoma City?
Who will best slot in alongside Doncic, the heliocentric star who everyone knows thrives when paired with defenders, shooters and lob threats?
Is Reaves — as delightful a character and player as he’s been in regular-season action — really a reliable second option beside Doncic when the physicality ratchets up in the postseason? Is he durable enough to count on late in a season?
Does anyone on the Lakers besides 41-year-old LeBron James — who had a game-high 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting in Game 1 — have it in them to throw a few scoring punches?
Final grades aren’t in yet, but let’s assume many of the current Lakers would want to hide the report card when it came — even though they tried, they really, really did.
But against Oklahoma City, the Lakers’ lulls became an invitation for the Thunder to strike. A few miscues got compounded exponentially.
Sometimes you have little room for error. And then there’s playing against the Thunder, when there is none: “Once you make a couple mental mistakes,” Reaves said, “it seems like they take advantage of every one of them.”
Thunder center Chet Holmgren beats Lakers forward Rui Hachimura to a loose ball during Game 1 on Tuesday night (Joshua Gateley / Getty Images)
And they don’t have to be perfect.
SGA doesn’t play to par? So what! They shoot only 12 free throws? Forget about it.
Because Chet Holmgren still goes for 24 points and 12 rebounds. Ajay Mitchell adds 18 points. Jared McCain chips in with 12 off the bench. They shoot 13 for 30 from three-point range. They put the clamps on during the second half, when they held the Lakers to 37 points.
They took care of business, the team that has all the answers — and for whom the Lakers have none.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives around Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 04, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers’ second-round opener against the Knicks was about as tired and lop-sided as it could have been. A sub 48-hour turnaround after beating Boston left the Sixers with minimal time to recover and go against the Knicks at full throttle, and it showed. The Sixers lost 137-98 in Game 1 on Monday, and there’s a whole array of things that need to change if Game 2 is going to play out differently.
First and foremost, the simple stuff: the Sixers need the Knicks’ shooting cools off. New York were red hot from three all night, finishing 19-of-37 (51.4 percent) from deep.
As Paul George said very simply to reporters after the game, “yeah, we had breakdowns tonight. But they also shot the s*** out of the ball.”
“But you know, it’s a game of adjustments,” George added. “We’ll make adjustments; see what we need to get better at.”
George is right of course. There were some breakdowns in communication that led to open looks. There were plays like the below that simply can’t happen at this stage to allow open buckets in the paint, not just from three.
— Adam Aaronson's clips (@SixersAdamClips) May 5, 2026
But the Sixers’ defense and switching was far sharper than this for other spells of the first half. Generally speaking, the Knicks were just on fire. They were frequently burying well contested threes like it was nothing, and chances are that doesn’t last all series. Hopefully for the Sixers, that calms down straight away in Game 2.
Offensively, the Sixers simply need far more from Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Apart from shooting a cool 3-of-9 overall in his 26 minutes, Maxey mainly needed to be more aggressive. Both in terms of actively hunting for threes (he only attempted three) and seeking driving lanes to the rim.
While Embiid didn’t score much himself with only 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting (and that needs to change), there were still flashes of how the Sixers could create off his gravity. He was able to generate some open looks from three with kick-out passes from the post and elbows, and found Kelly Oubre Jr. on some neat baseline cuts (Oubre’s cutting has been good in general these playoffs). More of that paired with sharper shooting from Embiid and Maxey would do wonders for turning Game 2 into a competitive one.
No double team on Embiid this time, and he wins the drive pretty cleanly against Mitchell Robinson.
— Nekias (Nuh-KAI-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) May 5, 2026
Paul George’s play was one of the few positives on Monday. He’s been terrific at both ends of the floor all postseason. He may not have lit up the scoreboard in Game 1, but George yet again brought plenty to the table at both ends. He finished with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting (4-of-6 from three) and three assists, finding success creating off the bounce from range and getting into the lane to either pull up for himself or set up others.
Again, more typical nights from Embiid and/or Maxey with this version of George will allow the Sixers’ offense to really punch back in Game 2. George continuing to operate well as a playmaker also makes it easier for Maxey to spend more time time as an off-ball scorer and movement shooter, which is what he needs a healthy dose of to be his absolute best.
VJ Edgecombe was also a bright spot. He was fairly aggressive with his limited shots and minutes, and didn’t hesitate from three, adding 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting and a pair of triples.
The Sixers’ stars attacking Jalen Brunson more could be one way to find some extra success, which we didn’t see much of in Game 1. Put Brunson to work by running him through more pick-and-rolls as the point-of-attack defender and exploit his lacking size and defense where possible. Getting him mismatched onto bigger players like George, or simply having to guard the more explosive Maxey and Edgecombe flying through the paint, could help.
Meanwhile as a scorer himself, Brunson was fantastic. He led all scorers by a mile with 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including a 3-of-6 mark from three. The Knicks’ created good looks attacking the paint and firing from three through Brunson’s wave of pick-and-rolls.
From drop coverage that gave Brunson pull-up opportunities to more aggressive coverages like the play below, he found ways to score. Take this possession, where Quentin Grimes stays over the screen (before Mitchell Robinson slips) and Embiid shows high before Brunson rejects the pick and drives into a clear lane.
We're back to aggressive coverages against Brunson.
— Nekias (Nuh-KAI-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) May 5, 2026
Moving forward, we’ll see tinkering with different looks through the series to try and keep Brunson in check as much as possible. You can never take away everything all the time, but you have to be adaptable.
To the Sixers’ credit, they did force Brunson into a fare share of difficult looks. Some of his threes and pull-up mid-rangers in particular were well guarded even if he made them regardless. Like this play, where Embiid shows high before recovering to Robinson and George pressures at the arc. A defense that’s reset with Brunson held at the arc against the close contest of a 6-foot-8 defender is a solid outcome… Brunson just buries the three anyway.
Brunson's hot start bringing Embiid higher on the floor. A twist to see the Sixers go with show and recover here. Embiid shows, PG under but Brunson has got it going right now. pic.twitter.com/2G0Dze4f1e
In Game 2, the Sixers can only keep using players who have guarded Brunson well in the past, like Oubre Jr., and Edgecombe who did a fantastic job on him this regular season, to ideally turn more of those difficult makes into misses. Unfortunately, Embiid’s mobility being weakened right now makes it harder to bring him higher against screens. Philly will need excellent individual on-ball defense on Brunson all series to prevent easy opportunities. Die on too many screens against drop coverage and he’ll have open pull-ups. Execute a blitz poorly and Brunson can slice into the lane himself or pass to an open roll man.
If the Sixers at least use different looks to keep Brunson guessing, stay physical on the ball, and be sharper with help rotations and switches, they could see some improvement. Some smaller lineups using a George-Dominick Barlow frontcourt could also be an option for short spells to give the Sixers the agility on the perimeter to show high against ball screens and up their switching. That is, unless Adem Bona gets another shot and has a drastic turnaround from his Game 1 performance. With three fouls in three minutes, it’s safe to say he didn’t look like a viable option.
It’ll be interesting to see how other defensive matchups play out in Game 2 as well. For instance, Embiid started out on Karl-Anthony Towns before taking on more of a paint-roaming role playing off Josh Hart, which could be effective moving forward if the Knicks have to attack the paint more if/when they stop making endless threes. Also, who fares better with the Brunson assignment moving forward? Both Oubre and Edgecombe spent time on him in Game 1, and despite Brunson’s skill as a tough shot maker, they’ve both proven they have the tools to guard him well.
Another smaller note is if we’ll see much more hack-a-Mitch strategy. The Sixers turned to intentionally fouling Mitchell Robinson early on Monday as they struggled to slow down the Knicks elsewhere. Nick Nurse even brought Justin Edwards in to pick up a few quick fouls, and it worked. Robinson missed four straight free throws at one point and is at 40.8 percent from the line this season, and 29.4 percent in the playoffs. Getting him off the floor forces Towns to spend more time on Embiid which bodes well for how effective Jo has been against him throughout his career. Robinson’s rim protection, while not game-changing for Embiid, can make the big fella work a little harder.
One last positive of the Sixers’ heavy loss at least is that Nurse, who’s smartly used a small six-man rotation this postseason to lean heavily on his best players, moved his starters to the sidelines midway through the third quarter. Hopefully for the Sixers, their key players not emptying the tank on Monday will help them enter Game 2 with a little extra energy.
Clearly a lot needs to change in Game 2 if the Sixers are going to win. But it’s not unthinkable changes. From a more aggressive Maxey and an Embiid closer to what we saw in round one, to less lights-out three-point shooting from New Work and scoring from Brunson.
It’s only been 18 days since we watched the Sixers get demolished by 32 points in Game 1 against Boston before they completed their historic 3-1 comeback. Maybe 30-point defeats is just how this 2026 team starts series as the underdog before making a comeback…
Game Details
When: Wednesday, May 6, 7:00 p.m. ET Where: Madison Square Garden, NYC Watch: ESPN, NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
These New York food joints are 86ing the 76ers’ hometown sandwich.
Restaurants and bars from Manhattan to Long Island were banning “Philly” cheesesteaks from the menu as the Knicks take on the 76ers in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Empire State spots said they were rebranding Philly cheesesteaks as “the Philly SUCKS cheesesteak,” “the Big Apple cheesesteak” and other cheeky names in response to The Post calling around to see if establishments were ready to dunk on the B-rate city.
Birdie owner and devout Knicks fan Louie Selvaggio. Stephen Yang for NY Post
“Philly needs to understand, New York is the king,” said Louis Cretella, the co-owner of Dario’s Pizza in West Hempstead.
Cretella, who has been a Knicks season ticket holder for more than a decade, personally changed the menu item from Philly cheesesteak to the Philly SUCKS cheesesteak in the restaurant’s computer system.
Hard copy menus have the “Philly” crossed out and “F*** Philly” in black marker written over it.
Dario’s can sell up to 2,500 cheesesteaks and has been featured on “Good Morning America.”
“If Philly is so good at cheesesteaks, then why did ‘Good Morning America’ reach out to us on Long Island and not the guys in Philly?” Cretella said.
“We’ll be renaming one of our original cheesesteaks to be The Appendix Burster — a nod to Embiid’s miraculous recovery from appendicitis,” a business rep told The Post in reference to the center returning to the hardwood 17 days after surgery.
Knicks fans Alexis Rodriguez, 27, waitress, left, and Natalia Magliocco, 20, hostess, right, at Birdie Bar. Stephen Yang for NY Post
Other restaurants were also tweaking their menu names in the beef with Philly during the high-steaks playoff matchup, including:
Slate in Manhattan is dubbing one of their appetizers the Knicks Knockout Philly cheesesteak empanadas, while sister business Clinton Hall is introducing the Knicks Knockout Philly cheesesteak sliders.
G’s Cheesesteaks in Manhattan is planning to change its cheesesteak to the New York Knicks steak on Wednesday.
Birdie Bar in Northport is calling their food item The Big Apple cheesesteak.
“We’re here to not only show you that we’re a better basketball team, but we might make a better cheesesteak than Philly also,” said Birdie owner and devout Knicks fan Louie Selvaggio.
Evan Deitch, part owner of the Chiddy’s Cheesesteaks, which has multiple sites, said at the business’ Farmingdale location Tuesday Philly fans have always been sore losers.
The updated menu at Dario’s. NY Post/Alex MItchell
“It’s not Philly, it’s Long Island cheesesteak,” Deitch said. “Ten times better! New Yorkers demand the best.”
The owners of Italian staple Mama’s in Copiague were giving customers the choice between two names instead of mentioning Philly.
“The Convert” because brothers Adam and Ahmy Sala grew up in Philadelphia as Sixers fans, but have since become Knicks fans thanks to watching point guard Jalen Brunson play at Villanova University and “Trust the Cheesesteak, Not the Process,” in a knock on former 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie’s questionable long-term plan of success.
“Philadelphia has been doing cheesesteaks forever. It’s time New York has a bit of an identity with that,” said Ahmy Sala.
The Lure Group CEO Aristotle Hatzigeorgiou said he did not want Philly mentioned at Slate or Clinton Hall. Robert Miller for NY Post
But for now, the Big Apple isn’t ready to serve Philly any props, especially as the Knicks faithful are reveling in Monday’s 137-98 Game 1win ahead of Wednesday’s game at Madison Square Garden.
Aristotle “Telly” Hatzigeorgiou, the CEO of The Lure Group, which is the majority owner of Clinton Hall and Slate, joked the kitchen staff “exorcised” anything Philly from the griddle.
“We just sat around, and all of a sudden we see the word ‘Philly’ there, and we’re like, ‘ugh!’ Teeth are grinding, and we didn’t want anything Philly that’s weak,” the Queens native said. “We wanted strong NYC grit. Not a weaky Philly cheesesteak.”
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 23: Onsi Saleh holds the Earl Lloyd Trophy 2025-26 NBA Southeast Division Champions before the game between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Hawks are still reckoning with a disastrous end to their season, but that ending shouldn’t obscure the progress the organization made in course of the past 12 months.
Despite major in-season roster turnover, the team won 46 games and returned to the playoffs after two seasons of eliminations in the Play-In Tournament. Jalen Johnson earned his first career All-Star nod — and he may yet make an All-NBA team. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was the acquisition of the offseason, going from bench role player to key starter and earning Most Improved Player in the process.
It’s one thing for fans and local media to take note of the team’s accomplishments. But it’s another for the league to take notice.
And two bits of news over the last week have now reinforced the notion that the perception of this front office have changed for the better.
The NBA Executive of the Year award has been handed out every year since 1972-73 in an effort to recognize an outstanding front office decision maker over the course of a season. While Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics President of Operations, was recently named the winner for the 2025-26 season, a familiar name finished second in the voting.
Onsi Saleh, Atlanta Hawks general manager, finished second in Executive of the Year voting in just his first year on the job as the top executive in the front office structure:
The voting panel for the 2025-26 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award consisted of basketball executives from NBA teams.
Saleh was recognized, in part, for pulling off a big draft asset transaction during the last draft for a lottery superpick, bringing in Alexander-Walker in a sign-and-trade using the mid-level exception, and netting key player CJ McCollum in the Trae Young trade — among other successful moves.
Now, the Chicago Bulls have tapped Graham to be, presumably, the top signal caller in their program:
Just in: The Chicago Bulls are hiring Atlanta Hawks senior vice president Bryson Graham as the franchise's new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, sources tell ESPN. Graham spent 15 years in New Orleans before joining Atlanta last offseason, rising from an intern… pic.twitter.com/IyolFrnMGl
Graham was instrumental in the widely lauded superpick acquisition due to his deep knowledge of the Pelicans’ draft assets. Additionally, he’s reportedly had a keen eye for scouting basketball talent, although the Hawks were largely unable to tap into that skill due to his short stint here in Atlanta.
Both of these news tidbits now lend credence toward the notion that the Hawks’ front office is well respected around the league. That hasn’t always been the case, but the new regime has clearly changed views around the NBA for the better.
That’s something to be celebrated — even as the front office loses a key piece in Bryson Graham.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 28: Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs smiles while talking to the media after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the Spurs won their fourth game against the Portland Trail Blazers, fans went honking. But the fans weren’t alone. Among the hundreds on the road celebrating, a member of the San Antonio Spurs took part in the festivities.
Spurs sharp shooter Julian Champagnie, who finished the first round of the playoffs shooting over 60% from beyond the arc, joined the fans in cheering the victory.
Between when Portland left and the Minnesota Timberwolves arrived, the Spurs had nearly a week to decompress and prepare for the second round of the playoffs. While out and about shopping, they stopped to take come photos.
Jordan McLaughlin was seen in Karolina’s doing some antique shopping.
Meanwhile, Champagnie shopped at Sephora and stopped to take a photo.
It’s hard not to notice a six-foot-plus guy as he’s passing by, but the Spurs are more recognizable than ever. For some, this is their first experience in the playoffs. All eyes are on them. It’s great to see how they have handled the fame with poise and grace.
Plus, they gotta get that Mother’s Day shopping done before they head to Minneapolis for the weekend.
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COVERS INTEL: 
